Queen City Hoops

Continuing Recognition of Crash

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 17:30:00 EDT

by Brett

Gerald Wallace is proud to be�along with Michael Jordan�the face of the Bobcats. The large player from a small Southern town is happy to be mentioned in the same breath as Jordan.

He just hopes not to share a hairstyle anytime soon.
-That Guy - SLAM ONLINE

SLAM takes a look at Gerald Wallace and his ever improving game - and what it is predicated on, his never ending hustle. Solid read (aside from the dig at the Bobcats first few seasons - "Over the next three campaigns, the Bobcats didn't improve much, but Wallace�and his digits�did." - 18 wins to 26 to 33 in years 1 through 3, with a small step back in year 4, to 33. Nearly doubling their wins is not an improvement? I know it is a throw-away line, but it bothers me when people misrepresent the past to make a more compelling story). With that along aside over - check it out and revel in your support of a still young All-Star, who has grown so much in the Queen City.

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For all the UNC fans...

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 19:00:00 EDT

by Brett

I know last year there was some discussion about "why won't the Bobcats sign McCants?" when the team was looking for backcourt help. Rashad McCants remains unemployed at this time and the Bobcats have just 2 shooting guards on the roster - one is Stephen Jackson, who soaks up minutes like a sponge. The other is Gerald Henderson, a young lottery pick that the Bobcats need to give time in order for him to develop. So, I do not necessarily think McCants would be a good fit in the Queen City - and this article from ESPN - The Magazine does nothing to change that:

But he knows the NBA isn't waiting for him. He knows it's his move. "You know," McCants begins slowly, "if they want me to smile ... I'll do it." He sits back in his chair and promptly undermines the declaration he has just made. "But I won't ever change being me."
- Rashad McCants is born to hated, dying to be loved from ESPN the Magazine (insider required)

I know the guy can play - I saw a lot of his games when he was at UNC. But things like this make it tough to think he would fit in with the Bobcats, playing little.

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Bobcats sign Shaun Livingston

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 07:30:00 EDT

by Brett

UPDATED (to clean up stream of consciousness writing)

Bobcats reach deal with PG Shaun Livingston from the AP. The article says the two sides agreed to a 2-year deal for $7 million - or approximately half of what Raymond Felton is getting in New York. I know that is what some people are going to wonder: How does Shaun compare to Ray and wouldn't it have been better to spend a bit more?

Well, Livingston is a former lottery pick like Raymond - the 4th overall pick in 2004 in fact(part of the trade up the Bobcats did to get Emeka Okafor). While Raymond has been Mr. Dependable, playing nearly every game in his career, Shaun has missed a full season due to the knee injury he suffered against the Bobcats back in 2007. Since then, he has bounced around a bit, with time in Miami, Oklahoma City, and Washington. Washington was his last stop, as he finished this past season there, starting 18 games for them.

As a Wizard, Shaun averaged 9.2 points and 4.4 assists per game. But that was in limited time - per 40 minutes, those numbers are 14.4 and 6.9. For comparisons sake, Ray's per 40 numbers for last year: 14.6 and 6.7. Hmm - interesting. Point in Livingston's favor is his superior fg% and points per shot marks - 53.5% from the field for 1.30 points per attempt - to 45.6% and 1.14 for Raymond.

However, the aforementioned knee injury is a detriment in multiple ways - for one, Shaun lacks Ray's durability (not the only time he has missed in his career) and may have to miss some practices and limit his game time due to knee soreness going forward. For another - Livingston is not the same athlete he once was. How is he going to be defensively? I have to admit some concern here - his defensive numbers last year were brutal. Looking at Shaun's numbers from last year, we see an aggregate opponent that really attacked him: His man scored 26 points per 100 team possessions, up from an expected mark of 21.7, while posting a PER of 19.87 (expected of 15.66).

Can Shaun handle defensive responsibilities on some of the league's premier point men? I suppose Larry Brown thinks so, as I doubt the Cats would sign a second defensive liability of a point to back up their other, in D.J. Augustin. One final note in Livingston's defense: He was starting at the end of the season, when the Wizards had thrown in the towel and went on a 16 game losing streak - so maybe he was not totally at fault as defense is a team concept.

To the other concern listed above: Would the Bobcats have been better served to spend a bit more? Well, as James pointed out on twitter today, the Bobcats payroll is a bit bloated. At HoopsHype the Cats are listed as the team with the 4th highest payroll in the league at over $71 million - while the site does not have all signings up to date and some numbers off for the Bobcats, it still shows them as being a bit higher up the salary scale than their performance would indicate. Signing Livingston for half the cost of Felton is one of controlling costs. But they also realized that Raymond just is not quite good enough - just think back to the way he got abused in the playoffs.

Is Livingston the answer? Maybe but even if he is not, at least he is not an expensive incorrect answer like Raymond had become. I know that sounds harsh - but the Bobcats had already overpaid for one of their own previously in re-signing Emeka Okafor and I am glad they learned from that mistake - one they are still working to undo. As much as fans want to think only about winning - there remains a business side to all this and if $3.5 million fewer dollars get a player who may be able to approximate the output of a more expensive option, that will be the choice made unless a team is contending for a title.

Wrapping up: Shaun Livingston is now a Charlotte Bobcat, competing for the starting spot. Livingston is a talented player coming back from injury, with very good size for the position, providing a nice foil to D.J. Augustin. He shoots the ball and takes shots he can make - Larry Brown will enjoy the fact that Shaun will not shoot from deep, with just 6 attempts all of last season. If healthy, Livingston will have been a good signing for the Bobcats. If healthy.

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A few more thoughts on the trade

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 07:00:00 EDT

by Brett

I am dealing with some mixed feelings on the trade of Chandler and Ajinca for Dampier and parts - so I decided to see what some of my fellow bloggers thought about it. Ziggy from BobcatsPlanet, David of RufusOnFire, and James of, well, here provide some gut reactions to the move.

The Bobcats whet our appetite for the kind of low turnover, great shooting point guard that could move the Charlotte offense from the slow lane to the middle of the pack and it all falls apart at the last minute. Disappointment didn't end there as the team swung a perplexing deal for Erica Dampier's disappearing contract, Edjuardo Najera and Matt Carroll.

The team has vexed all of us with this deal that only makes sense if they can find a capped out team with a significant luxury tax bill to buy Damp's deal as they peddle it across the league. Which begs the question: If Dallas couldn't find a taker why would the Bobcats? If the team is trying to sell us on Dampier being the starting center, I don't think many fans would buy it and they shouldn't. The good news is that Matt Carroll, one of the most liked & and respected Bobcats returns. Here's hoping he gets some time to renew the faith in his shot that disappeared before he was traded away a couple of seasons ago.
-James of QueenCityHoops

Next up is David of RufusOnFire, who already posted some thoughts - Chandler-Ajinca to Dallas for Dampier-Najera-MATT CARROLL!!! - but was willing to further contemplate the situation:

After back-of-the-envelope calculations, it looks like this is a salary dump meant to keep the Bobcats away from the luxury tax. What bothers me most, though, is that the Cats seem to feel okay with making this move instead of standing pat because they subscribe to the principle that two average players are better than one above average and one below average player. When we're talking about the fifth-best player on the team, or the bench guys, I'm not sure that's true. Now, the Cats can spend their saved money on two rotation players instead of keeping Chandler for this one last year of his contract and then hunting for a cheaper option (Rasho? Mbenga? Josh Boone?).
-David of RufusOnFire.com

And last, but not least, is Ziggy from BobcatsPlanet:

After giving it some thought, I'm "comfortable" with the trade. On the court we would be lucky to get 50 healthy games out of Chandler, and from the looks of Summer League Lexi hadn't progressed enough for Larry Brown to be able to trust him with minutes this season. So we traded away two people that weren't going to have much of an impact on the Cats' win-loss column for Matt Carroll, Najera and quite a bit of cap flexibility. Najera and Carroll may stick and contribute in some small way, but the real gem here is Dampier's $13 million dollar unguaranteed salary. If that is used wisely, we may be able to parlay that into something that DOES have an effect on the win-loss column.
If the Dampier contract is handled shrewdly, then I think this trade is a win for the Bobcats.
-Ziggy of BobcatsPlanet.com

And one final link: Teej at BobcatsPlanet posted some thoughts on the trade over there as well - Bobcats trade Chandler to Mavericks - so go check that out as well.

UPDATE:
ASChin from BobcatsBaseline weighs in :

Where do I begin?

The Bobcats essentially just traded the #2 overall selection in the 2004 Draft (Emeka Okafor) and this year's first rounder for Matt Carroll, Najera and an expiring contract. Think about that for a moment. Let it settle in. Now find the nearest toilet and release. This, Bobcats fans, is why an organization must have a plan.

We'll have to see exactly what the Dampier contract turns into but I don't believe that the team has any secondary trades or backup plans in place. Worst case scenario, the team just sheds $13 million in salary this season. My guess is that the Bobcats may try to package Diop and Dampier for Gilbert Arenas. Fans are screaming for Chris Paul but all evidence points to George Shinn holding him hostage until 2012.

MJ is winging it, what else can you say? And until Jordan figures out that a small market franchise needs to resemble the Spurs and not the Knicks, Charlotte fans will continue to be subjected to Michael's whims and questionable decisions.
-ASChin of BobcatsBaseline.com

Plus a few thoughts from Mike at BobcatsBaseline - Chandler and Ajinca Traded � Wow

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One trade dies, another trade lives

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:00:00 EDT

by Brett

The Bobcats have traded Tyson Chandler and Alexis Ajinca to the Dallas Mavericks for Eric Dampier's un-guaranteed contract, Matt Carroll, and Eduardo Najera - Bobcats' Chandler traded to Mavs - from Woj at Yahoo Sports. If the Bobcats keep Dampier all season or cut him outright, I do not like the trade - if they use his very attractive, waive-able $13 million contract to get another contributor, then I like it ~~a great deal~~. A great deal may be to strong, as it does still bring back a couple of deals that are a bit longer in duration - but Najera and The Hammer can both contribute, as the Cats need shooters (which Najera has developed into, shooting nearly 35% on threes last year). We may have to wait a bit longer to get a good read on this though.

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Dead deal told in Twitter Updates

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:00:00 EDT

by Brett

I say the Cavaliers just completed a sign and trade deal for LeBron James - Jordan backing out of this deal with the Raptors can be forgiven when the two sides need to work together again. I am glad the Bobcats continued to mull the trade over and were willing to look a little too eager initially rather than commit to a course of action that they were not comfortable with. This allows the Bobcats to hold onto Tyson Chandler, with him still the starting 5, and also demonstrates that there is still interest in Boris Diaw around the league. If the Bobcats want to move either player, it looks like it is a possibility.

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An acknowledgement

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 23:00:00 EDT

by Brett

Yes, the Bobcats resigned Tyrus Thomas. Yes, Raymond Felton has agreed to a deal with the New York Knicks. Yes, Boris Diaw and Tyson Chandler are being...well, it has not happened just yet. So if this trade ever happens... by Rick Bonnell outlines a couple of thoughts on the potential trade of Diaw and Chandler (among other players from other teams) with the Bobcats receiving Jose Calderon and Reggie Evans (or Dwayne Jones) in return. But it has not been finalized just yet, and as Bonnell points out, that means it may not. So, I am going to hold off on substantive discourse on this until it is a reality - but just know that the Bobcats may be filling their new point guard gap with a solid (and substantially different) player while unloading the conundrum that is Boris Diaw and the M.A.S.H. unit that is Tyson Chandler. If it happens, I am pleased - if it does not, I will not be unpleased, as it shows some solid work by the front office. And when it does happen, I will have more to say.

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Good luck, Ray

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 22:35:00 EDT

by Brett

While the Bobcats had the exciting news of resigning Tyrus Thomas this weekend, there was also a bit of less exciting news: Raymond Felton is no longer a Bobcat, as Felton agreed to a deal with the Knicks this weekend. After 3 years at UNC and 5 with the Charlotte Bobcats (and preceded by high school ball in SC), Felton will no longer call the Carolinas his basketball home - considering the uproar over LeBron James leaving his home state, it is somewhat sad to see such a loyal, hardworking player like Raymond move on. I will not pretend like I have been his biggest supporter - Raymond has some weaknesses in his game but he has continued to work hard and showed improvement in his offense this past season while maintaining his strong defensive play. That work effort and dedication that Felton has demonstrated marks his as nothing but a true professional and for that he will be missed. Best of luck in New York, Raymond.

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Tyrus Thomas is a Bobcat for...

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 22:30:00 EDT

by Brett

the foreseeable future. I have no idea who reported it first at this point, so I will link to the Charlotte Observer - Jordan, Bobcats go proactive, lock up Tyrus Thomas. That is correct - the Charlotte Bobcats have Tyrus Thomas under contract for the next 5 seasons at a total of $40 million. This is good news: Rather than lose their 2012 first round pick for 2 months of seeing TT's potential, the Bobcats now have the opportunity to make use of his considerable gifts for the next several seasons. And while it has not completed yet, other news (Raptors and Suns and Bobcats, oh my!) makes it look like Tyrus has the starting 4 spot to himself. Despite having been in the league for a few years already, Thomas is still young at 23 and put up solid numbers in his brief Charlotte stint last year, most memorably compiling 13 blocks in his first 3 games as a Bobcat. Tyrus also finished the year strong, with a 21 point, 9 rebound effort in the Bobcats final game of the playoffs. The former #4 overall pick still has some growing and learning to do - and I am glad to see that he will be getting that opportunity in the Queen City.

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Goodbye, Cleveland

Fri, 9 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EDT

by Brett

With LeBron James joining the Southeast Division, it seemed appropriate to at least post something, as it directly impacts the Bobcats. For now - this image is all I have to say.

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Bobcats mentioned in trade talks

Thu, 8 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EDT

by Brett

Chad Ford and Marc Stein have reported that sources say the Bobcats have been pulled into trade discussions surrounding Chris Bosh - not for his services, but to facilitate a sign and trade between Toronto and Miami, and also involving Houston.

The proposed deal, sources said, would send Beasley and Rockets forward Jared Jeffries to Charlotte, land Bobcats center Tyson Chandler in Houston and create sufficient cap space for Heat president Pat Riley to offer max-contract money to Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and James.
-Can Miami pull of Beasley trade - from TrueHoop

Consider me on-board with this idea - Stockpiling young talent is always a good idea. Similar to the Bobcats taking on Tyrus Thomas, Michael Beasley was a high draft pick who has fallen a bit out of favor with his former team, but remains young enough to still hold a good bit of potential. Check out Michael Beasley's stats for this past season - 19.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per 40 minutes. Yes, his low free throw rate (and 3-point shooting) is (are) a concern(s) - and so is his effect on the Heat's defense - the Miami Heat posted a 99.9 defensive efficiency mark with him off the court and a 105.2 with him on the floor. Troubling - but Beasley's personal defensive numbers look solid, with him holding his man to a PER of 1.51 below expectations. Basically - there is a lot to like out of this former #2 overall draft pick who just a few years ago was rolling through the Big 12 in Durant-like fashion.

Not much from me to say about Jared Jeffries - he is there to make the money work. Jeffries deal expires after this coming season, and the Bobcats would have their choice on exercising Beasley's option - so no long term salaries coming back for Tyson's expiring deal.

Yes, the Bobcats lose their expected starting center from last season - but they would be left with Nazr, Diop, and Ajinca, and it is not like Boris Diaw has not seen a few minutes at the 5 before. With the parameters as they are laid out so far - I see a lot to like about this for the Bobcats.

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Praise for some Bobcats in Orlando

Wed, 7 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EDT

by Brett

Zach Harper has been following the proceedings down in Orlando - and weighs in with a mammoth post on the happenings: Orlando Summer League Rookie Report. While the title specifies rookies, a few "veteran" Bobcats get mention:

Derrick Brown/Gerald Henderson combo: This should be outlawed for Summer League. These guys are clearly too advanced to be here.

The Bobcat rookies of last year get a paragraph devoted to them and how solid they looked - good to hear. Alexis Ajinca gets his own paragraph as well - it is not as positive but does note that there is some potential gleaming through: "He's still a project but no longer horrendous." Yes, Bobcats fans - that is what the Bobcats have to show for giving up their pick in the draft that just occurred - the Ajinca Era: Good times.

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From Larry Brown's Playbook

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EDT

by Brett

And now to take a page from Larry Brown's playbook - the literal one, not the one he uses for employment negotiations. Zak Boisvert runs a feature through his twitter feed called "Daily Chalkboard" - and today, it was time to look at a set from Larry Brown.

A very cool and informative look at a common Bobcats' set - and I would recommend you start following Zak on twitter, because things like this make you smarter.

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Nothing Happened

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 08:00:00 EDT

by Brett

Photo from Quitor.com

There was a lot of talk leading up to the draft about how the Bobcats wanted to get involved - maybe even finding a way into the first round. But nothing happened.

The current roster for next season:
Alexis Ajinca
D.J. Augustin
Derrick Brown
Tyson Chandler
Boris Diaw
DeSagana Diop
~~Raymond Felton~~ - unrestricted free agent
Gerald Henderson
Stephen Jackson
Nazr Mohammed
Tyrus Thomas - restricted free agent
Gerald Wallace

I cross out Raymond's name not because he is gone - but because the Bobcats do not have control over his future. If Ray is ready to leave, that is what will happen. At least with Tyrus, the Cats have first refusal should he get a better offer elsewhere.

Now, free agency is a week away from getting started - time to hurry up and wait some more.

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Stay Still, Bobcats

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 12:30:00 EDT

by Brett

The site has been fairly quiet of late - partly because I have been working on some other projects and partly because there is not much news right now for the Bobcats: Larry Brown is still the coach - no player has broken anything - and the Bobcats do not have any picks in this year's draft. And David of Rufus on Fire makes the case it should stay that way:

So, what's the point of spending money on a second round draft pick? At that point, it's just as good a bet to gamble on reclamation projects, or never-weres...
-Why should the Bobcats trade for a draft pick? - RufusOnFire.com

I cannot argue against his logic - other than to say that the draft would be a lot more interesting in the Queen City if we had a horse in this race. But that certainly is not enough of a reason to make a hasty deal for an unknown: Looking back now (and immediately after even), would it not have been better for the Bobcats to forgo the instant gratification of adding an additional first rounder 2 drafts ago? Alexis Ajinca serves as a reminder that the draft is not exactly a science.

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